Tag: rocky romero

Daily Update: Mercedes Mone, Rocky Romero, BOSJ schedule

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this issue:

  • Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania updates. Update on ticket sales to both shows as well as AEW Revolution and explanations of why and current interest level in tickets.
  • Notes on the giant gates WWE drew for WrestleMania last year and John Cena’s retirement.
  • How much Mania tickets have increased in recent years
  • Odds on this week shows
  • Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey and a history of how women’s MMA overcame so many obstacles due to those two. We look at what each did, their background, the story behind the 2014 fight that never happened and why this fight is happening, as well as addressing very serious questions regarding the fight.
  • A look at nostalgia fights and different ways to do them and how they work or don’t work
  • A look at the life and career of the Great Mephisto, one of the most creative minds in wrestling as a wrestler and booker of the 60s and 70s, including his heyday in San Francisco and Australia and stories about his confrontations with Roy Shire, copying from and teaming with The Sheik, Booking WCW in Australia, and a life that start as a street hustler in the depression to facing Hulk Hogan in his first match ever in Northern California.
  • The most detailed look at the television ratings over the past week, with comparisons, Nielsen and Netflix flaws, Olympics and more.
  • Major change in CMLL rules and thoughts about it
  • This past week in CMLL including a hot Friday night sold out show with Mistico vs. Templario
  • Mistico talks Observer awards
  • Saya Kamitani update
  • FantasticaMania first night
  • Cain Velasquez update
  • Notes on the death of Brett Wolverton and Kerwin Silfies
  • Mick Foley television series
  • Longest lasting pro wrestling ring announcer
  • Eve sets UK record
  • Tag team holds titles in Europe & Japan at the same time
  • TNA No Surrender notes
  • More on mainstream coverage of Brody King
  • More on WBD sale
  • Report that Trump will kill current deal
  • AEW in Australia notes
  • Sean Strickland is an idiot
  • Dana White talks boxing
  • Gable Steveson fights again and update
  • Janel Grant lawsuit update
  • Another WWE European tour and PLE show
  • Bad Bunny wrestling update

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • Now that he’s retired and getting to spend more time at home, AJ Styles shared a photo on Instagram of his daughter doing his hair: “What are you doing now that you’re retired? Well, I’m currently getting my hair done by my daughter.”
  • D-Von Dudley hopes that Spike Dudley will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame:
    • If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if the Dudleys would have gotten as far as we did. It was because of Spike and the crazy bumps that he took for us, and what he allowed us to do to him was why the Dudley Boyz really became the Dudley Boyz. If it’s anybody that belongs into the Hall of Fame, it’s Spike Dudley. So Triple H, I hope you’re listening. Please get my little brother in that Hall of Fame. He deserves every bit of it.
  • Mick Foley made an Instagram story post agreeing with The Undertaker about Chelsea Green being underutilized in WWE: “In total agreement with @undertaker on this. @chelseagreen is a star.”
  • Alexa Bliss tweeted out a message to NXT’s Tatum Paxley after Paxley revealed that watching Bliss is what inspired her to become a wrestler: “Thank you for the kindest words – can’t wait til we meet again in the ring @TatumPaxley”
  • ESPN continued the promotional push toward Elimination Chamber with Randy Orton, CM Punk, Je’Von Evans, Jey Uso, Tiffany Stratton, and Joe Tessitore making appearances.
  • Big E, Peter Rosenberg, and ESPN’s Joe Fortenbaugh hosted an Elimination Chamber preview show.
  • In an interview with The Takedown on SI, Trish Stratus shared what advice she would give AJ Lee ahead of Elimination Chamber. Lee is facing Becky Lynch at the PLE in what is Lee’s first singles match in more than a decade.
  • Stratus said:
    • Get your reps in, get to the place where you’re comfortable. You’re gonna think you’re not comfortable, but rely on your body. There is this aspect of it’s like riding a bike. You literally get to the point where like your body goes, I got this, as long as you can support it. And recovery-wise, make sure that you take care of all the things. I do my yoga, I do all the things to make sure I can support [the performance]. She’s gonna be great.
  • Tiffany Stratton trained with Ivy Nile for a video on Nile’s YouTube channel.
  • New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson was the guest on the latest episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast.

Other Wrestling

  • Ric Flair remembered his late son Reid on what would have been Reid’s 38th birthday:
    • Not A Day Goes By Where We Don’t Think About You Big Man! We All Know You Are In A Better Place, But It Doesn’t Make The Pain Ever Go Away. Reid, We Are All Remembering You Today On Your Birthday! Love & Miss You!
  • Mercedes Mone is returning to Poland on March 29 to defend her Prime Time Wrestling Women’s Championship against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.
  • Rocky Romero spoke to Fox News Digital about the working relationship that exists between AEW, NJPW, and CMLL:
    • What’s cool about it is AEW, especially Tony Khan, has so much respect and so much love for New Japan and New Japan has always been supportive of AEW. I think it’s a partnership that really works and obviously it’s an essential partnership when you’re going against someone who has such a huge market share in WWE. So, I think it’s very strategic and now that we’ve thrown CMLL into the mix, these three big promotions really working fluidly together and working on storylines that cross all three promotions and having talent go from each company and champions.
  • Rush, who has been out of action since November due to a knee injury, tweeted today: “I feel better than ever.”
  • Shop AEW released a new “Big Hebrew” T-shirt for MJF after he applied to trademark that term this week.
  • Comic book writer Steve Orlando was the guest on AEW Unrestricted today, discussing the partnership between DC Comics and AEW.
  • NJPW announced that this year’s Best of the Super Junior tournament will take place across 14 nights from May 14 through June 7. The participants have not been revealed yet. Here is the schedule:
    • Night 1: Thursday May 14 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
    • Night 2: Saturday May 16 Tokyo Esforte Arena Hachioji 
    • Night 3: Sunday May 17 Tokyo Yoyogi National 2nd Gymnasium
    • Night 4: Wednesday May 20 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
    • Night 5: Friday May 22 Osaka Asue Arena
    • Night 6: Saturday May 23 Hyogo Acrie Himeji
    • Night 7: Sunday May 24 Kyoto KBS Hall
    • Night 8: Wednesday May 27 Shizuoka Kira Messe Numazu
    • Night 9: Friday May 29 Niigata Tsubame Citizens Gymnasium
    • Night 10: Saturday May 30 Toyama Takaoka Techno Dome
    • Night 11 & 12: Tuesday June 2 & Wednesday June 3 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 
    • Night 13: Friday June 5 Gunma G Messe
    • Night 14 (Final): Sunday June 7 Tokyo Ota City Gymnasium
  • Shayna Baszler will face off against Kristara in a Voyageur Cup quarterfinal match for Winnipeg Pro Wrestling next month. The winner of the tournament challenges Mercedes Mone for the Winnipeg Pro Women’s Championship.
  • Ronda Rousey shared new footage of her training for her upcoming MMA fight against Gina Carano.
  • Comedian Brad Williams appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • Jeremy Peeples, a long-time writer for our website, has started a GoFundMe campaign to benefit the family of his housemate Sherry who suddenly passed away this week.

Rocky Romero confirms he’s re-signed with NJPW

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rocky Romero is sticking around NJPW.

On Tuesday’s Wrestling Observer Live, Romero confirmed with Bryan Alvarez that he will remain a part of the NJPW roster. He also plans on returning to CMLL soon.

“I just re-signed with New Japan. I’m still working for CMLL. I took a little break, just going back and forth was killing me a little bit, so I took a little break. But I should be back in the next couple of months,” he said.

Trained by Antonio Inoki at the original NJPW LA Dojo, Romero has spent most of his career working for CMLL and NJPW. Romero joined AEW and became a regular television character in 2024 as a member of the Conglomeration. He later turned against them and aligned himself with the Don Callis Family.

Romero was on WOL to promote New Beginning USA, which takes place this Friday in New Jersey. Top matches include Yota Tsuji vs. Andrade El Idolo for the IWGP Global Heavyweight title, Syuri vs. Athena for the IWGP Women’s title, and the Knock Out Brothers vs. GOA for the IWGP Tag Team titles. Ricochet will also be on the show to defend the AEW National title against Taiji Ishimori.

WOL: AJ Styles, Bronson Reed, plus Rocky Romero joins us!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including the amount of commercials on the “ad-free” Netflix, the RAW report, updates on Bronson Reed and AJ Styles, then Rocky Romero joins us to talk New Japan, AEW and ROH! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Rocky Romero says he thinks about retirement ‘all the time’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

As his pro wrestling existence drifts further and further away from the ring, Rocky Romero is frequently thinking about when he’ll hang up his boots for good.

The 43-year-old Romero has become an important behind-the-scenes figure in wrestling, including front office roles in both AEW and NJPW. He still competes in the ring internationally as well, though he isn’t sure how much longer that will be the case. Ahead of his match against Kenny Omega on Dynamite tonight, Romero told Undisputed that he thinks about retirement “all the time.” He plans on ending his in-ring career as soon as his work drops below the standard he’s set for himself.

“If this were my last match, I’d be honored for it to happen against a guy like Kenny,” Romero said. “I’m definitely slowing down, so it feels great to still have a moment like this.

“When I retire, I’ll stay involved in wrestling. I really debate how much longer I’ll be in the ring — I think about retirement all the time. There is a certain standard I want to always meet and exceed. The second that is no longer the case, then I’m done.”

Omega defeated Josh Alexander last week and is now facing off against another Don Callis Family member in Romero. Along with that, Omega is looking to prove he deserves a shot at AEW World Champion MJF.

Tonight’s match is something that Romero views as a full-circle moment. He’s had history with Omega from their time in ROH and NJPW. Now they get to face off in a high-profile match on cable television.

“My job is always constantly evolving,” Romero said. “One part that’s never changed is I’ve always loved to wrestle. Over the last two years, I’ve slowed down on the performing part. But I’m still a wrestler at heart. That’s why I got into this business.

“There is no greater high than to be out there wrestling in front of a crowd, especially in a match like tonight against Kenny. I’ve seen him grow from Ring of Honor and New Japan to where he is now, at the tip-top of the business, so wrestling him now means even more. We’ve been intertwined for so long. Some of the most pivotal years of our lives were spent together in the same company at the same time. And I got into wrestling by watching WCW on TNT and TBS. To be able to wrestle a high-profile top star on Dynamite, it’s a full-circle moment.”

Kenny Omega singles match added to AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

AEW has also announced a Continental Championship eliminator match between Jon Moxley and Ace Austin for Wednesday’s show. If Austin wins, he earns a shot at Moxley’s title.

**********

For the second straight week, Kenny Omega will be competing in a singles match on AEW Dynamite.

AEW has added Omega vs. Rocky Romero to the lineup for Dynamite in Cedar Park, Texas this Wednesday. Omega, who is coming off a win over Josh Alexander, will continue his feud with the Don Callis Family by taking on another member of the faction in Romero.

“After his win vs Josh Alexander, Omega said that @TheDonCallis Family doesn’t have a member that can beat him in his current condition, but Rocky wants his chance TOMORROW!,” Tony Khan wrote while announcing the match.

Last week’s victory was Omega’s first match of 2026. He’s set his sights on entering back into the AEW World Championship picture, with Omega, Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page, and Andrade El Idolo among those who want a shot at MJF’s title.

Strickland vs. Andrade is also part of the Dynamite card for this Wednesday. The show is being held at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, January 28) —

  • AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Thekla
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) defend against Jake Doyle & Mark Davis
  • TNT Champion Mark Briscoe defends against El Clon
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Andrade El Idolo
  • Kenny Omega vs. Rocky Romero
  • AEW World Champion MJF appears
  • Continental Championship eliminator match: Jon Moxley vs. Ace Austin

Rocky Romero revealed as Konosuke Takeshita’s partner for NJPW Wrestling Dontaku

Posted on by Ian Carey

Rocky Romero is now officially part of the Don Callis Family.

Romero joined the faction on AEW Collision last night, aligning with his Roppongi Vice teammate Trent Beretta and attacking Tomohiro Ishii. NJPW has since confirmed that Romero will be the mystery partner previously advertised to team with Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestling Dontaku on May 3 and 4.

Takeshita & Romero vs. Jado & El Phantasmo is set for night one of Wrestling Dontaku, and Takeshita & Romero vs. ELP & Oleg Boltin is scheduled for night two.

“Now Romero and Takeshita are united under the Callis Family banner and set to tag at Dontaku. But against ELP and Jado on May 3, and then Phantasmo with Boltin Oleg on May 4 — has Rocky bitten off more than he can chew?” an article on NJPW1972.com asks.

The updated lineups for Wrestling Dontaku are below.

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 3 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan

  • Dogpound Steel Cage Match: WAR Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Maloney, Clark Connors & Taiji Ishimori) vs. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, SANADA, Ren Narita, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Shota Umino
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Jado & El Phantasmo vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Jakob Austin Young, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman
  • TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Yuya Uemura vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji
  • Master Wato, YOH, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs. Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa
  • Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Nagai

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 4 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Callum Newman
  • IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Yuya Uemura
  • TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino vs. BUSHI, HIromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
  • TAJIRI, Chikuzen Ryota, YOH, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • El Phantasmo & Oleg Boltin vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero
  • Stardom showcase: Wrestlers from Stardom face each other
  • Master Wato & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jakob Austin Young & Great-O-Khan
  • Batten Burabura & Mentai Kid vs. Gedo & Taiji Ishimori
  • Katsuya Murashima & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jet Wei & Hitamaru Sasaki

Trent Beretta returns on AEW Collision, Rocky Romero joins Don Callis Family

Posted on by Josh Nason

When Don Callis said last week that they were looking for new members to join his family, he didn’t waste any time in doing just that.

After Josh Alexander debuted on Wednesday’s Dynamite and later aligned with Callis, Thursday’s AEW Collision saw both the return of Trent Beretta and a Rocky Romero heel turn to round out the new crew.

Romero and Tomohiro Ishii were taking on Alexander and Konosuke Takeshita when Romero dropped off the apron in frustration after accidentally getting clotheslined by Ishii. Alexander pinned Ishii after he and Takeshita landed dual forearm strikes followed by a power bomb.

Afterward, Romero helped Ishii up when a hooded man entered the ring, later revealing himself to be Beretta, making his return after nearly a year away and nine months removed from neck surgery. He and Romero attacked Ishii before the rest of the Callis family joined them with Callis handing Beretta a wrench which he used to nail Ishii in the back.

The faction lost both Mark Davis and Brian Cage recently due to injury. Lance Archer remains part of the group but wasn’t out for the aforementioned angle.

Romero, Ishii and Beretta were part of the CHAOS faction in NJPW. Beretta last wrestled at May 2024’s Double or Nothing.

Rocky Romero wants future Wrestle Dynasty events to be ‘an even bigger celebration’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rocky Romero would like for future Wrestle Dynasty events to be an even bigger celebration of all the promotions involved.

The first-ever Wrestle Dynasty took place from the Tokyo Dome on January 5. Presented by NJPW, it was a collaborative event that also featured talent from AEW, Stardom, CMLL, and ROH. The top two matches on the card were Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ricochet and Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd.

Romero holds a Vice President title in both NJPW and AEW, playing a key role backstage in addition to competing in the ring. He also helps with CMLL behind the scenes and was involved in the planning of Wrestle Dynasty.

Appearing as the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week, Romero addressed how future collaborative events like a potential second Wrestle Dynasty could be improved. Romero said he sees a lot of potential in the Wrestle Dynasty concept. He would like to see more talent involved in the future with all of the promotions getting the chance to put their best foot forward.

“I think in the future I would like to see even more of a celebration of each company,” Romero said. “We had the lucha gauntlet, but I would like to see now, like, CMLL talent going for different titles. Whether they’re AEW titles or defending CMLL titles there, which I think would be really cool and really special because we haven’t seen that in a while. Maybe [we] get a glimpse of it once a year when CMLL visits and they do Fantasticamania in Japan.

“I was glad that we had Ring of Honor involved, but I think that’s another thing that we could have. Imagine if [Chris] Jericho defended the Ring of Honor World Championship? That would be cool. You know, there’s a couple of other people that New Japan is working with. Maple Leaf Wrestling, I think that there’s something to do there with Scott D’Amore. I would like to really just make it an even bigger celebration the next time we do it. And really involve more talent and really see more use of everybody’s best foot forward or like best features, you know?”

AEW and NJPW are set to collaborate again with their annual Forbidden Door event taking place from London this summer. The date for that show is Sunday, August 24.

PAC & Rocky Romero tag match announced for CMLL Arena Mexico event

Posted on by Ian Carey

The full lineup for Friday’s show at Arena Mexico has been announced.

The event will be headlined by MJF defending his AEW American Championship against Templario. CMLL revealed the full lineup on Tuesday including a tag match featuring AEW’s PAC teaming with Rocky Romero.

The match stems from a trios match between Death Triangle and Volador Jr, Dorada, and Mistico on last Friday’s show that saw Death Triangle lose the final fall via disqualification when PAC purposefully unmasked Dorada.

Death Triangle was interviewed after the match. PAC called out Volador Jr and vowed to return to Arena Mexico.

CMLL Super Viernes lineup for Friday, August 2, 2024 —

  • AEW American Champion MJF defends against Templario
  • PAC & Rocky Romero vs. Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada
  • Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion Esfinge defends against El Valiente
  • Hechicero, Magnus & Rugido vs. Euforia, Soberano Jr, & Averno
  • Dulce Gardenia, Rey Cometa, Espiritu Negro vs. Disturbio, El Cholo, & Apocalipsis
  • Infarto & Retro vs. Xelhua & Hunter

IWGP World Heavyweight title eliminator match set for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Another IWGP World Heavyweight Championship title eliminator match has been announced for AEW Dynamite.

After successfully defeating Konosuke Takeshita in a title eliminator match at Double or Nothing, Tony Khan announced on Wednesday morning that Moxley will now battle Rocky Romero.

“Officially on the Path to AEW/NJPW #ForbiddenDoor, days after scoring a win at #AEWDoN, MOX will fight @azucarroc TOMORROW NIGHT!,” he wrote.

It was also announced that Mercedes Mone will have a TBS Championship celebration. She defeated Willow Nightingale at Double or Nothing to win the title for the first time. 

On Tuesday, it was announced that Swerve Strickland will face Killswitch in a match sponsored by HBO’s House of the Dragon season two.

Here is the updated lineup for Dynamite:

  • Swerve Strickland vs. Killswitch
  • IWGP World Heavyweight title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Rocky Romero
  • The debut of TV Time with Chris Jericho
  • Casino Gauntlet match to determine who challenges for the AEW World title at Forbidden Door
  • We will get answers from Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway

AEW Rampage live results: PAC vs. Rocky Romero

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Four matches are set for the final Rampage before Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

PAC will be in singles competition on the show against Rocky Romero. Should The Lucha Bros defeat The Gunns on Saturday’s Collision, PAC and The Lucha Bros will face The Gunns and Jay White for the Unified Trios Championship at Double or Nothing.

Former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe returns to action on Rampage, facing enhancement talent Dom Kubrick.

Rush will be in action for the second consecutive week on Rampage as he goes one-on-one with Isiah Kassidy.

TBS Champion Willow Nightingale will team with Kris Statlander against Anna Jay and Alex Windsor. Nightingale is set to defend her TBS title against Mercedes Mone in Mone’s AEW in-ring debut at Sunday’s pay-per-view.

Rampage airs at 6 p.m. Eastern time on TNT, and will be immediately followed by a Countdown to Double or Nothing special at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

Taped in Bakersfield, California.

Excalibur, Chris Jericho, Tony Schiavone and Big Bill were on commentary. 

PAC defeated  Rocky “Azucar” Romero (7:13)

PAC is so smooth at everything he does. PAC set up Romero with a low bridge to send him to the outside, then hit a Asai moonsault that got a standing ovation from Big Bill. 

After a split-screen break, Romeo caught PAC with a back heel kick and sliced bread for a near fall. Romero countered a suplex attempt with a back slide for anear fall. On commentary, Jericho clarified that Big Bill’s new name is “Redwood.” Romeo drilled PAC with a tornado DDT (beautiful selling from PAC) and hit a pescado for a near fall. PAC escaped a Sliced Bread #2, hit a boot and dropped Romero with a German suplex. And just like that, PAC locked in the Brutalizer and Romero tapped out.

After the match, the other members of Death Triangle came out to celebrate PAC’s victory. PAC grabbed a mic and called out the Gunn Brothers. 

– Chris Jericho cut a promo from the desk about his three way match at Double or Nothing. Katsuyori Shibata ran out for the back, but Big Bill cut him off. Hook’s came up from behind Jericho and pulled him into the crowd, and they brawled to the back.

– Renee Paquette tried to interview Hook and Shibata, but Samoa Joe interrupted  again to talk trash to Hook. Hook storms off, and Shibata uses his phone to tell Renee he’s going to see Carrot Top while in Vegas. 

– Matt Menard joined commentary for the rest of the show, since Jericho and Big Bill were run off after the opening match.

Samoa Joe defeated Dom Kubrick (1:20)

Joe shrugged off a dropkick, then floored Kubrick with a back elbow. After a flurry of offense, Joe hit the Muscle Buster to get the pinfall. 

– Renee Paquette interviewed Deonna Purrazzo, who challenged Thunder Rosa for the Double or Nothing Buy In. The match was made official for the Buy In later in the show.

Rush defeated Isiah Kassidy (7:57 aired)

Rush hit the shotgun dropkick right away. He could have pinned Kassidy, but instead kicked him to the floor and whipped him into the steel barricades around ringside. Rick Knox did his usual bang-up job of enforcing the rules, allowing Rush to whip Kassidy and choke him with a power cable. Rush continued to dominate Kassidy during the split-screen break.

After the commercial break, Kassidy got some offense in and hit some kind of neckbreaker for a near fall. Kassidy hit a senton for another near fall, and Rush cut off the comeback with a headbutt. They took the fight to the ring apron and exchanged chops until Rush caught Cassidy with a belly to belly suplex that sent him to the floor.  

Back in the ring, Rush hit the diving shotgun dropkick for the pinfall. Rush barely gave Kassidy anything.

– Arkady Aura interviewed the Gates of Agony and Brian Cage. Cage cut a pretty good promo for his trio. Seemed like it might be setting up something with them and The Acclaimed for a six man match.

Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander (w/ Stokley Hathaway) defeated Anna Jay & Alex Windsor (9:23)

Windsor is a top star for Rev Pro. Anna Jay’s gear looked patriotic (for Memorial Day weekend, I guess). Nightingale caught Windsor with a pounce early. Anna Jay got the tag and Statlander dropped her with a back suplex. Jay caught Statlander with a neckbreaker in the ropes. The fight went to the floor, where Jay sent Statlander into the ring steps. 

After a split-screen break, Windsor controlled Statlander with a cravat. Statlander got the hot tag to Nightingale, who caught Jay with a shotgun dropkick off the middle rope. Nightingale missed the cannonball in the corner, and Windsor caught her with a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Nightingale caught Windsor with a stiff clothesline, then finished her off with the gutwrench powerbomb for the pinfall. 

Nightingale’s celebration was cut short by Mercedes Mone who kicked off her shoes and ran to the rign to brawl with Nightingale and Statlander. Mone tried to hit her new finisher (called the Mone Maker) which looked ridiculous for her to try on Statlander who was so much bigger than her. Eventually the gaggle of officials came out to break up the right. Mone celebrated in the ring with the TBS title.

For Collision tomorrow night, FTR and Bryan Danielson will take on Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh.

PAC vs. Rocky Romero, Samoa Joe match set for AEW Rampage

Posted on by Josh Nason

Friday’s early edition of AEW Rampage will see the return of former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in addition to PAC vs. Rocky Romero.

This will be Joe’s second match since he lost his title to Swerve Strickland at April’s Dynasty. He has not been announced for Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view, but has been involved in a storyline with motivating Hook during backstage segments. Hook and Katsuyori Shibata will challenge FTW Champion Chris Jericho in a three-way title match Sunday.

The PAC vs. Romero match is their first singles encounter since 2012 when they squared off in that year’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament. They were also on opposite ends of a 2007 tag team match in PWG.

In other action, Rush will look to go 3-0 against former factionmate Isiah Kassidy while TBS Champion Willow Nightingale will team with former champion Kris Statlander against Anna Jay and the well-regarded Alex Windsor who is making her promotional debut.

Friday’s show will air at 6 PM Eastern/3 PM Pacific due to NBA playoff coverage on TNT.

Here’s the current lineup that was taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Bakersfield, Colorado:

  • PAC vs. Rocky Romero
  • Samoa Joe vs. Dom Kubrick
  • Rush vs. Isiah Kassidy
  • Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay & Alex Windsor

Wrestling Observer Live: Ric Flair tirade, Tony Khan wrestling, Rocky Romero talks NJPW Resurgence

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Ric Flair’s restaurant incident, Tony Khan correctly says he should never wrestle, the NXT Combine gimmick, and more, plus Rocky Romero joins us to talk New Japan Resurgence! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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International title eliminator official for AEW Battle of the Belts X

Posted on by Bryan Rose

An International title eliminator match is set for Battle of the Belts X.

During a promo on Collision, Romero says he’s won titles in Mexico and Japan and now he wants a title in AEW. He said he knows that he can’t just walk up and get a title shot due to AEW’s rankings, so he is challenging Roderick Strong to an International title eliminator match. Strong then appeared and said although he thinks Romero has about a one percent chance of beating him, he will accept his challenge.

The match was later made official for Battle of the Belts X. That will air immediately after next week’s Collision at 10 pm ET.

Battle of the Belts IX was held back on January 13. That card had Ricky Starks & Big Bill defeating Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara in a street fight to retain the AEW Tag Team titles, Julia Hart successfully defending the TBS title against Anna Jay, and Orange Cassidy defeating Preston Vance to retain the International title.

Here is the lineup so far for Battle of the Belts X:

  • AEW International Championship eliminator match: Roderick Strong vs. Rocky Romero

Rocky Romero joins AEW front office

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rocky Romero has added another new role to his list of pro wrestling jobs.

In Monday’s Daily Update, Dave Meltzer reported that Romero is now working in AEW’s front office. Romero also works for NJPW behind the scenes and helped bring CMLL and AEW together for their working relationship that formed last October.

“Just so people know, he’s still working for New Japan,” Meltzer clarified on Wrestling Observer Radio.

AEW and CMLL have continued their working relationship since Romero brought them together. On Wrestling Observer Live in October, Romero said he was excited to see AEW and CMLL take the next step in their partnership.

In addition to his behind-the-scenes roles with the promotions, Romero regularly competes in the ring for NJPW and AEW. He was in action on last Friday’s episode of Rampage, teaming with Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta in a loss to Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett.

Romero is also the current MLW Middleweight Champion. He’s set to defend the title against CMLL’s Mistico at MLW Intimidation Games in New York City on Thursday, February 29.

Romero held the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship in CMLL from January to December of last year.